My DH loves to watch YouTube... you know, flying saucers and kittens and stuff? ... and he found this video that I wanted to share with all of you.

This poor octopus has already had its essential organs removed, but apparently is still aware of what's happening to it. It doesn't want to be doused with soy sauce, and it seems to be struggling to free itself of the sting.

Look at its eyes.

I was in shock for several minutes after I saw this video.

Oh, and religion aside, please, because my DH is an atheist who says, "Is this how we would treat the first visitors from another planet?"

I wouldn't take any video like this on the Internet seriously. It's so easy to fake.

Animals eating other animals is the way nature, and evolution, works.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. Isaac Asimov

This poor octopus has already had its essential organs removed, but apparently is still aware of what's happening to it. It doesn't want to be doused with soy sauce, and it seems to be struggling to free itself of the sting.

I'd be interested in knowing what leads you to think that an octopus is "aware of what's happening to it."

Looks to me like a reflexive reaction to liquid being poured onto its tentacles. Notice how there's no reaction when the person's fingers push the octopus's head upright again. If this is a creature aware of what's happening and struggling, that act would certainly stimulate a reaction. But, there isn't one.

All of the above, of course, assumes that this video hasn't been heavily tampered with which wouldn't surprise me in the least.

This poor octopus has already had its essential organs removed, but apparently is still aware of what's happening to it. It doesn't want to be doused with soy sauce, and it seems to be struggling to free itself of the sting.

I'd be interested in knowing what leads you to think that an octopus is "aware of what's happening to it."

Looks to me like a reflexive reaction to liquid being poured onto its tentacles. Notice how there's no reaction when the person's fingers push the octopus's head upright again. If this is a creature aware of what's happening and struggling, that act would certainly stimulate a reaction. But, there isn't one.

All of the above, of course, assumes that this video hasn't been heavily tampered with which wouldn't surprise me in the least.